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MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives began yesterday a series of high-level, multi-panel hearings aimed at helping authorities come up with a unified, whole-of-government response to rising prices of fuel and commodities.
In his opening statement, Speaker Faustino Dy III said the House is working in close coordination with the executive to confront the global fuel shock and mitigate its impact on Filipino households.
“We will not go separate ways, we will be united instead. This is exactly the kind of whole-of-government response our people expect – a Congress that has chosen to work with the executive to find lasting and forward-looking solutions. Above all, this is what we should do for our people,” Dy said.
The 13-committee panel has been tasked to craft a coordinated legislative response, bringing together lawmakers, Cabinet officials, economic managers and regulators.
Dy pointed out that the impact of the crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East is felt daily by Filipino families. “We know that we are not in control of this crisis. It is caused by the tension in another part of the world, but the Filipinos are shouldering its weight, in terms of fare, prices of oil, electricity bills and on all tables,” Dy said.
He stressed that while the crisis cannot be prevented, government can take decisive steps to address its effects.
“We cannot stop the crisis, but there are ways to face these trials,” Dy said. “We are here not just to ask questions; we are here to deliver answers – fast, concrete and felt by the people.”
The Speaker outlined two priorities: immediate assistance and long-term reforms.
“First, the immediate assistance, the targeted assistance to lessen the burden of our people. Second, a long-term solution, reforms in energy, economy and security of supply so that we will not be repeatedly hit by this kind of crisis,” Dy said.
“The objective is clear: protect the Filipino people, stabilize the economy and build resilience against future shocks,” he added.
The multi-panel hearing, facilitated by Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, chairman of the committee on ways and means, consolidates the work of committees handling key sectors to align legislative action with ongoing executive measures.
Cabinet officials, regulators and economic managers attended the briefing to present data, assess supply risks and propose policy options that can be rolled out immediately.
Bayanihan 3
Quimbo said the convening of the Legislative Energy Action and Development or LEAD joint committee should pave the way for the establishment of Bayanihan 3.
“If we had Bayanihan 1 and 2 during the pandemic, I think it is not far away from the objective of this Congress to create a Bayanihan 3,” Quimbo said in his opening remarks.
“Fuel has always been a vulnerability of our economy. But it is in moments like this – when global trade is disrupted and geopolitical tensions escalate – that we fully see the depth of our structural weaknesses,” he said.
“Our country remains heavily dependent on imported oil, with almost 100 percent of our fuel supply sourced from abroad and only one remaining refinery operating in the country. This means that, through thick and thin, our economy is tied with the situation in other countries. We do not have enough capacity to control the prices and flow of energy inside our own country,” he added.
He said the raging crisis is now a cost-of-living story whose worst effects are on ordinary workers and families.
“Each Filipino felt the effect of the crisis. The prices of gasoline rose to almost P110 per liter and diesel is almost P130 per liter. It is not only the transport sector which is severely hit because other sectors already feel the heavy weight of the prices of oil, like the agricultural industry,” Quimbo said.
“In Congress, we have already taken an important step by passing the law that enables the President to suspend excise taxes on oil products. We likewise recognize and commend the executive for its efforts to secure supply routes and alternative sources of crude oil, to the repatriation of 3,000 OFWs and the rollout of targeted subsidies for a quarter-million transport workers in NCR and, in the coming weeks, additional subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk,” the Marikina lawmaker added.
Also at yesterday’s hearing, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste repeated his call for the national government to cut by two points the 12 percent value-added tax on petroleum products.
Leviste urged his colleagues to pass House Bill 4302, also known as the “VAT Reduction Act of 2025,” saying the Philippines has the distinction of having the highest oil tax in Southeast Asia.
“If the government really wants it, then government can definitely find ways. If other nations can do it, why can’t we? The solution is crystal clear: lower the VAT to 10 percent on all products, or suspend VAT collection on oil,” he said.
“Reducing VAT is a direct and efficient way to address inflation. It avoids leakages and cuts administrative costs associated with redistribution,” he added.
Free rides
For Rep. Joel Chua, the government should replace fuel rationing with libreng sakay, interest-free MSME loans and LPG discounts.
“The ongoing energy emergency does not require fuel rationing. We still have sufficient fuel supply. What we need are targeted interventions that cushion the impact of rising prices while keeping the economy moving,” Chua, member of the House committee on economic affairs and on transportation, said in a statement.
“Instead of rationing, I propose tax credits for entrepreneurs and enterprises absorbing fuel price shocks. This will help prevent fare hikes, price increases and job losses” he added.
Chua said that fuel demand can also be reduced by accelerating the shift to e-vehicles and hybrid vehicles and by deploying more passenger buses to move former private car users from Point A to Point B.
“I am open to providing the Department of Transportation and the Department of the Interior and Local Government funds for service contracting, libreng sakay or subsidized bus fares, especially in routes where there are not enough PUVs. This should apply not only in Metro Manila, but also in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao,” Chua said.
Meanwhile, Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano filed House Bill No. 8826 or the “AHON Act” (Agapay sa Hanapbuhay at Operasyon ng Negosyo), a targeted economic relief package designed to help workers, the middle class and businesses cope with rising fuel prices and transport costs.
“When transport and logistic cost goes down, convenience is immediately felt. That is the objective of AHON, help the middle class and businesses,” Valeriano said.
He emphasized that the AHON Act directly addresses the needs of the middle class, a sector often overlooked during crises.
“The middle class are most of the time stuck, not qualified to assistance, but they are the ones hit by the high prices and favorite target of taxes. In AHON, we directly reduce their expenses,” Valeriano said.
